8Jimmy Clausen QB

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John Fox preaching open competition, even at QB

by Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com

New Bears coach John Fox called it "all an open competition" when asked if he could see a scenario in which quarterback Jay Cutler had to compete for the starting job, reports ESPN.com. Jimmy Clausen is Cutler's projected backup.

“I would say logically if you are looking at the depth chart and you are asking me for it two weeks before we can really get anything going, I’d say be [Cutler would be] first on the depth chart, yeah,” Fox said.

“Obviously you’ve got to start somewhere and my experience in football and really anything is it’s not where you start the race it’s where you finish it. We have to start the race with some kind of lineup, and we have not discussed that in depth. We have not presented it to our players in depth. I think it’s important for them to see it maybe more than you guys. I’ve had guys who were third on the depth chart that by the time we started the opener were first. I can’t tell you what’s happening. If I could I’d be at some race track somewhere.”

The Bearshave re-signed quarterback Jimmy Clausen on Friday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

New Bears coach John Fox drafted Clausen in 2010 when he was in charge of the Panthers. The new Chicago front office are reportedly uncertain of Jay Cutler's future with the club, so Clausen's role with the team remains to be seen.

Clausen, 27, got the start over Cutler in Week 16 before suffering a concussion. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and was unable to play the season finale.

Bears safety Chris Contewill miss Sunday's game against the Vikings with a back injury. Conte was unable to practice all week. He played 12 games this season, recording 43 tackles and three interceptions. Also out are quarterback Jimmy Clausen (concussion) and kicker Robbie Gould (quad).

Clausen absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit by defensive end Ezekiel Ansah as he slid to the ground during a 20-14 defeat to Detroit. He was checked multiple times after hit but did not exhibit any signs or symptoms of a concussion until he left the stadium Sunday night. He was taken to the hospital for further testing, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.